DPF Delete exhaust leaks and water in headlights - Issues on Leeds

[deadempire]

OK, so i've recently got my hands on a Mk 2 Leon FR. Beautiful car and it's had the DPF delete done, as well as a remap. I'm looking to get some things fixed up on it, but am having a hard time finding a garage who are willing to do the work.

Issue one is what smells like diesel fumes in the cabin. I took the car to IVC in Leeds to get the timing belt replaced, and that was fine, but they basically said it was an issue most likely related to the DPF delete (pressure sensor maybe?) which is causing an exhaust leak, and they wouldn't look at fixing it. Only thing they would do is replace the DPF.

(While i'm on it, does anyone else with experience of having DPF deletes notice a massive difference in the smell coming from the car? Cause mine seems to be quite a potent smell.)

Second issue is that the previous owner had put custom LED side lights in, and on one side looks like it was a bit of a bodge job and he didn't seal it up again properly, so water is now leaking into the headlight. Again, the only fix that was suggested was to replace the whole headlight unit, which i don't feel is necessary if i can avoid it.

I've rung a couple of other places to ask for fixes, and they've said that they would generally just send these to IVC to get looked at anyway!

Does anyone know of a garage around Leeds who would be willing to work on 'customised' Leons without having to fix them back up to stock specifications?

 

[Matt-V5-Duffy]

If it's the PD engine and had the injector recall it will probably need the injector setup doing properly.

Do you notice any white smoke from the exhaust from cold start?

 

[deadempire]

I actually did notice a bit of white smoke when i started the car yesterday in frosty weather. Yeah, it is a PD engine.

Is there any way to tell which cars are affected by the recall? And is it a case of them replacing all the injectors or something?

Sorry for my ignorance, I'm guessing maybe there's a whole thread on this somewhere.

 

[deadempire]

Just saw the stickied thread at the top! Will have a read now. Thanks Matt

 

[Matt-V5-Duffy]

No worries

The easiest way to check if the recall has been done is to ring Seat with your VIN. They should be able to tell if it has been done.

 

[deadempire]

So I called Seat and the car has had the recall already done. Was processed in 2012, so i'm guessing that it's probably not an issue related to that. It's a shame cause I was hoping that could have been an easy fix!!!

 

[Matt-V5-Duffy]

It may need the injectors setting up. I've seen a number of these which have had the recall done but the tolerances between the rocker arm for the injector and the top of the injector have been a long way out.

 

[deadempire]

Ah, OK. Thanks so much for all the info dude. And do you know if this is something which can be diagnosed by checking the ECU (will it show a fault?), or can it be pretty easily determined with a visual inspection?

Might be worth taking it back in to IVC to see if they can check that out. Hopefully he won't just blow me off and tell me it's the DPF removal which is causing everything

 

[Matt-V5-Duffy]

It isn't something that can be checked via the ECU, but is is very easy to check. All then need to do is pull the cam cover off and turn the engine over by hand checking the clearances using a DTI gauge.

 

[deadempire]

Perfect, thanks again for all your help dude.

 

[deadempire]

OK, so i've got it booked in with IVC again to get them to check the injectors and make sure everything is all gravy with that, and just in case i'm gonna take it in later in the week to a garage that still do DPF removals to check the exhaust for any issues relating to the original deletion that was done (and see if i can maybe get them to look at the software to stop the engine management light coming on cause of the DPF pressure sensor).

Thanks again Matt, you've been real helpful mate.

 

[Unit9]

pressure sensor crack is bollox,

 

[deadempire]

OK, so still no fix for this unfortunately. IVC wouldn't check the injectors, said it was definitely DPF related and that there was most likely a leak in the exhaust from shoddy welding when the delete was done.

I took it to an exhaust place which does DPF deletes, and they said the exhaust was fine, there weren't any holes at all, but also said that if the injectors were misaligned that the engine management light would be coming on and i should have more symptoms that just a puff of white smoke on startup (which could just be condensation).

Basically, everyone is now telling me that I'll need to get the DPF replaced, which means i'll need to get the original engine map put back as well, if i want to do anything about the smell.

Bollocks. I really don't wanna be paying over a grand and losing 30hp. The remap was half the reason i waned the car in the first place.

 

[Matt-V5-Duffy]

Whoever told you that the injector clearance being out will cause the eml to be on is simply talking out of their arse because they probably have either no idea what their talking about or have no idea how to do the setup.

Take it to a decent VAG specialist and they should be able to sort it for you.

 

[deadempire]

Might have to take it direct to the authorised seat dealer here then (JCT600 i think) cause the only other independent i know of (IVC) won't even look at it.

Thanks again bro. The saga continues, but hopefully i can get this sorted.

I'm guessing that there is a chance though that this is all caused by the DPF delete and remap though and there's no option other than to try and revert to stock. It was a reputable map (from Elite Maps) but was installed by the previous owner who is an auto electrician. Just strange, cause i haven't heard of anyone else having these symptoms just from a remap and DPF delete before.

 

[deadempire]

OK, so update to this post, I took the car into Volks Works and they were AMAZING compared to IVC. They had a look, and #4 injector was out of alignment (although he said this shouldn't have been a big deal) but also said that there was a gasket that needed to be replaced from next to the DPF which was causing the fumes to get into the car.

Fixed it the next day and everything is perfect again. They were so helpful, couldn't recommend these guys enough. I get where IVC were coming from not wanting to fix anything, since they seem like they only want to do genuine work, not touch anything that's been modified etc. but they misdiagnosed my problem, and then wouldn't even check the injectors when i asked them to, saying it was just due to there not being a DPF that the car was extra smelly.

If you've had any kind of non-standard work done on the car and it needs to get looked at in Leeds, I'd avoid IVC and go with Volks Works all the way.

 

[sssingletrack]

By non standard, you mean illegal modifications that mean you car does not meet what is required by law? And thus should fail any genuine MOT?


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[Unit9]

Or ford goodness sake not another one of These posts' hope you post this in all the tfsi threads who run a de cat etc aswell. It gets so boring trolls looking for an argument

 

[deadempire]

By non standard, you mean illegal modifications that mean you car does not meet what is required by law? And thus should fail any genuine MOT?

In this case, IVC wouldn't look at the headlight because it had a non-genuine LED side light in it, and also, when I specifically asked them to check the injectors (which turned out to be misaligned), they refused to even look at them because they said they thought they already knew what the problem was.

Lots of people choose to do non-standard mods and the vast majority of them wouldn't affect a car's ability to get an MOT. I've got no problem with a company not wanting to work on anything that's technically illegal, but it was more the attitude they had and their unwillingness to consider that it might not have been what they thought it was which was causing the problem.

You might want to consider getting off that high horse though sssingletrack, seems like the lack of oxygen up there may be affecting your brain.